Fastener means



Dec. 8, 1942. R. w. LUCE FASTENER MEANS Filed Aug. 5, 1940 INVENTOR RICHARD w. LUCE BY &7

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 8,1942

v. UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcl-z Richard W. Luce, Southport, Conn. Application Augustll, 1940, Serial No. 351,525

Claims.

The invention herein disclosed relates to an adjustable fastener means that is particularly suitable for securing relatively movable elements in various adjusted positions and in one speciflc embodiment comprehends a threaded locking device such as that disclosed in my U. 3. Patent No. 2,265,661 of December 9, 1941, for Threaded locking device.

In many constructions it is desirable to'have a fastening means which secures two relatively movable elements in vdrious positions. Many elements are such that the fastening means should be of such construction that the relative position of the two relativelymovable elements may be varied within limits through an inflnite number of steps. Such a condition maintains, for example, in the adjustment for the head lamp of an automobile. The beam of the headlight of an automobile is adjusted by moving the reflector with respect to the mounting and it is positioned by the position of the reflector with respect to its mounting, the lighting unit being mounted in the reflector.

By this invention, there is provided an adjustable fastener for securing relatively movable elements in various positions. This fastener has an infinite number of steps within the limits of its action and it is arranged such that it may be utilized as the medium through which the movable elements are moved into adjusted position. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a fastener that comprises an internally threaded element and an externally threaded element. The internally threaded element includes means for effecting a frictional engagement between the thread thereof and the thread of the externally threaded element when the latter is entered in the formers Each of these elements are provided with means for engaging the movable. elements. Thus, upon relative movement of the two threaded elements, the movable elements are brought closer together or separated depending upon the movement of the threaded elements. In addition, due to the frictional engagement of the two threads of the threaded elements, no jamb nuts or other such locking arrangement is required and a micrometer adjustment is possible.

An adjustable fastener embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the headlight of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a rear sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing the case I represents the case or housing of a headlight of an automobile and 2 represents a reflector or reflector unit of the headlight. The reflector is mounted in the housing I so that it is movable about two axes at right angles to each other. This movement takes place about the line 3 of the housing, the reflector sliding on this line in the manner of a ball and socket joint. I

The reflector 2 is provided with a circumamblent flange 3 at the outer edge thereof. At one side of each axis about which the reflector is mounted 1 to move, there is a spring (not shown) connected to the flange of the reflector and to the bottom I of the housing. Each spring tends-to pull the flange of the reflector towards the bottom I of the housing and thus causes the diametrically opposite sides of the reflector to move away from the bottom I of the housing or outwardly of the housing. To resist this tendency of movement of the reflector and to position the reflector, adjustable fasteners embodying this invention are provided at points diametrically opposite to the points of attachment of the springs. One such adjustable fastener is illustrated in the drawing. The other, in a headlight, is identical with that illustrated and is angularly spaced about the reflector ninety degrees. In this way, the reflector can be adjusted and positioned about the two perpendicular axis about which the reflector moves. I

The fastener illustrated in the drawing includes a male or externally threaded element 5 and a cooperating female or internally threaded element 6. Adjacent the head of the externally threaded element 5 there is formed a groove I. This section of the externally threaded element 5 is received in a slot in the flange 3 the edges 8 and 9 of the slot being receivedin the groove 1. Both of the shoulders defining the groove 1- are beveled, preferably on a curve so that these surfaces form frustro-conical or spherical sectors. The groove lis of slightly greater width than the thickness of the flange 4'. Thus, the flange 3' is free for transverse sliding and tilting movement with respect to the externally threaded element 5 and the element 5 is rotatable in the flange 3'.

The internally threaded element 6 is received in a bracket in that is secured to the rear wall I of the housing by rivets II. The bracket ID has a bifurcated arm I! which extends substantially parallel to the flange 3' of the reflector 2 when the reflector is in the mid 01' normal position. In this way, the. elements and 6 restrain movement of the reflector, under the action of the diametrically opposite spring, about the axis transverse to the diametrical plane containing the spring and the elements 5 and 6. Movement-of the element 5 with respect to the element 5 either moves the reflector against the action of the spring or permits the reflector to move with the spring depending upon which direction the element 5 is rotated.

The element 5 is maintained in a fixed position, by frictional engagement of the surface of the thread thereof with the surface of the thread of the element 6, against forces due to vibration or shock and tending to eifect relative movement of these elements. Thus, when the reflector is positioned by turning the externally threaded element 5 nothing further need be done and the reflector will be maintained in the position to which it is adjusted by turning the element 5. In addition, since the threads of the two elements are maintained in contact, in the manner hereinafter described, the thread variation cannot affect the adjustment and a micrometer adjustment is possible.

The internally threaded element 6, illustrated in the drawing, is made of sheet metal and includes a tubular portion l3 that is internally threaded and constitutes the body of the ele- -ment, another internally threaded tubular portion l4 spaced from the portion l3 and a resilient portion l5 between the portions l3 and I4. Primarily, these three portions of the threaded element are the same, and, function in the same manner, as the lock-nut illustrated in'my aforementioned patent.

The resilient portion l5 normally maintains the threaded portions l3 and M with the thread thereof out of phase. This portion of the element 6 consists of a pair of diametrically opposite wings extending substantially radially outwardly of the nut, One wing includes two outwardly extending, axially spaced, substantially radial wall sections |5a and b. These wall sections are united at their outer ends by an arcuate, curved wall section l5c. The wall section l5a is united at its inner end to the end of the tapped portion l4 and the wall section ISD is united at its inner end to the adjacent end of the tapped portion l3. The other wing consists of similar wall sections similarly arranged.

When the element 5 is-entered in the element 6 and passes the resilient portion l5 and enters the portion M, the resilient portion is expanded,

well within' its elastic limit, until the thread of the portion I4 is brought into coincidence with the thread of the element 5. The expansion of the resilient portion l5 causes this portion by its inherent resiliency to effect a frictional engagement between the thread of the portion l3 and the thread of the externally threaded element 5. This frictional engagement of the surface of the threads produces a frictional force that is sufficient to resist relative rotational movement of the two threaded elements under forces acting thereon that result from the vibration and shock that are ordinarily encountered in service. Also, the resilient force thus drawing the threads of the wo elements together takes up the thread variation in the threads of the elements 5 and 5.

For the purpose of mounting the internally threaded element 6 in the bifurcated arm I! of the bracket l0 so that there may be some sliding movement between the arm and the element of the bracket l0 and the element 6 permits these a 6, there is provided at diametrically opposite sides of the portion ill of the threaded element 6 axially spaced flanges which in effect form grooves or slots in which the sides In and [2b of the bifurcated arm l2 are received. On one side of the threaded element 6, these flanges consist of an offset flange l6 and a parallel flange H in the plane of the end of theportion la. The flange I1 is stuck out of the flange IS, the flange I! being in eflect a tongue. A similar offset flange l8 and a tongue iii are provided at the diametrically opposite side of the portion l3. The edge of the side I20 01 the bifurcated arm I2 is received between the flanges l6 and i1 and the edge'of the side l2b of the bifurcated arm is received between the flanges l8 and I 9. So mounted in the bracket I0, the element 6 is restrained against rotational movement about its axis In consequence, the element 5- may be threaded into and out of the element 6 to effect adjustments of the reflector 2. The distance between the flanges l6 and I1 and the distance between the flanges l8 and I9 are slightly greater than the thickness of the bifurcated arm I2 and the flanges are arranged to permit slight sideward play (as seen in Fig. 2) between the element 6 and the arm I'2 of the bracket. The looseness of fit thus effected between the arm I! two elements to compensate for tilting movement of the reflector.

From the foregoing description of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing it will be apparent, to those skilled in the art, that by this invention there is provided a simple and inexpensive adjustable fastener. This fastener is such that it is readily and easily manipulated to effect a micrometer adjustment of two relatively movable elements between which the fastener is utilized by the simple expedient of adjusting a screw and without the necessity of manipulating secondary locking elements.

It will be obvious that various changes may be 'made' by those skilled in the art in the details of the fasteners illustrated by way of example in the drawing and described in detail above within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable fastener for effecting movement of and securing relatively movable elements in various positions which fastener comprises in combination an internally threaded elementincluding means for effecting a frictional engagement between the surfaces of the thread thereof and the thread of an externally threaded element entered therein, an externally threaded element entered in the internally threaded element, and means on said elements for engaging the relatively movable elements.

2. An adjustable fastener for effecting movement of and securing relatively movable elements in various relative positions which fastener comprises in combination an internally threaded element including means for effecting a frictional engagement between the surfaces of the thread thereof and the thread of an externally threaded element entered therein and means for engaging one of said relatively movable elements in sliding contact, an externally threaded element entered in the internally threaded element, said externally threaded element having means for engaging the other of said elements in sliding contact and being rotatable therein.

3. An adjustable fastener for effecting movement of and securing relatively movable elements in various relative positions which fastener comprises in combination an internally threaded element having slots formed at opposite sides thereof to receive one of the movable elements and including means for effecting a frictional engagement between the surface of the thread thereof and the thread of an externally threaded element entered therein, and an externally threaded element entered in said internally threaded element having a groove for receiving the other of said movable elements.

4. An adjustable fastener for effecting movement of and securing relatively movable elements in various relativepositions which fastener comprises in combination a sheet metal internally threaded element having spaced parallel flanges at the side thereof to receive one of said movable elements and including means for effecting a frictional engagement between the threads thereof and the threads of an externally threaded element entered therein, and an externally threaded element entered in said internally threaded element, said externally threaded element having a groove therein to receive said other movable element.

5. A sheet metal fastening element comprising in combination an internally threaded tubular body portion, spaced flanges at diametrically opposite sides of the body portion, another internally threaded tubular portion spaced from said body portion, and a resilient portion intermediate the threaded portions normally holding the threaded portions with the threads thereof out of phase.

RICHARD W. LUCE. 

